Sheila Simon
(Photo courtesy of Friends of Simon)

In an election year marked by divisiveness and negative campaigning on the national level, the contest between a former Marine corps officer and a past lieutenant governor for the only open seat in the Illinois Senate is proving civil and dignified.

Republican Paul Schimpf, 45, of Waterloo and Democrat Sheila Simon, 55, of Carbondale are vying for the Illinois 58th State Senate District seat on the Nov. 8 election ballot.

The seat is being vacated by Sen. David Luechtefeld of Okawville, who plans to retire in Jan. after 22 years in office.  The district encompasses all of Monroe and Randolph Counties as well as southern St. Clair County including Cahokia.

Simon,  the daughter of the late Sen. Paul Simon, has one of the best known names in Illinois politics and experience in statewide office; having served as lieutenant governor under Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn from 2011 to 2015.

She is currently a professor at the Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale. A member of bipartisan Illinois Independent Map Amendment coalition board and Illinois Reform Commission for campaign contribution limits, Simon has worked the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation and entered politics in 2002 as a member of the Carbondale City Council, according to her campaign website (http://sheilasimon.org).

Schimpf has the support of Sen. Luechtefeld. Before leaving the military to practice law in Monroe County, the U.S. Naval Academy graduate was a Marine Corps attorney and infantry officer. He assisted Iraqi prosecutors in the trial of Saddam Hussein.

“Springfield needs a lieutenant colonel, not a lieutenant governor,” Schimpf’s campaign website (www.schimpf4illinois.com) states. Despite Simon’s record of public sector service, Schimpf believes he is better prepared to be an effective negotiator in an often stalemated state capital. He was a congressional fellow for a Republican member of Congress and appointment to the Pentagon under President Barack Obama.

Both ran unsuccessfully for statewide office in 2014:  Simon, for state comptroller; Schimpf, for attorney general. Both graduated from the SIU Carbondale law school.

Paul Schimpf
(Photo courtesy of Citizens for Schimpf)

Simon holds a substantial fund raising lead; although both candidates have substantial campaign war chests and both saw a surge in donations over the past 90 days, according to filings with the Illinois Secretary of State.

Friends of Simon has reported $1,040,846.43 in campaign contributions, $947,115.71 since June 30.

Citizens for Schimpf reports $638,034.77 in funding, with $582,716.77 received since the end of June.

Schimpf says the election of a Republican in the district would help to erode a Democratic supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly that has generally refused to compromise on reforms proposed by Republican Gov. George Rauner.

Simons contends that Democrats in Springfield have been willing to work with the governor — citing a temporary budget agreement earlier this year — and fears Schimpf would become simply “a rubber stamp” for Rauner in the Illinois Senate.

Both Simon and Schimpf emphasize fiscal responsibility and job growth in their campaign literature. Both acknowledge Illinois will need additional revenue to address the state’s budget crisis.

Simon specifically supports a new Illinois “millionaire’s tax”, which is a surcharge on high-income taxpayers. Schimpf says he would consider an increase in the state income tax but emphasizes spending cuts will be necessary to balance the budget.

Simon criticized Rauner’s partial government shutdown, earlier this year, saying it adversely affects average citizens.  Simon says she cut staff and expenditures in her office while lieutenant governor, without a negative impact on taxpayers.

Both call for revival of the Illinois coal industry as a way to promote economic development and employment. However, Schimpf calls for repeal of coal industry regulations imposed by the Obama administration.

Simon supports additional research to reduce pollution associated with Southern Illinois coal. She also calls for increased access to higher education as a means encouraging new jobs in the region.

Like Simon, Schimpf supports the Independent Map Amendment proposal, under which an independent commission would be established to draw legislative district boundaries.

However, the two differ on Rauner’s term limit proposal. Schimpf supports it. Simon believes limits arbitrarily restrict the ability of voters to determine who represents them in office.

Schimpf’s campaign literature notes he is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. He favors reform of state workers compensation rules.

Simon’s campaign literature emphasizes increased funding for Southern Illinois schools, high ethical standards, state fiscal responsibility, union and worker’s rights.

Both favor school funding reform; although Simon supports the “needs-based” plan of State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) and Schimdf believes it would ultimately cut funding to many schools.

— Former lieutenant governor, Marine office compete for 58th District State Senate seat —